Richmond: Council set to rule on Chevron refinery project

RICHMOND -- The City Council is expected Tuesday to rule on the conditions of Chevron Corp.'s $1 billion refinery modernization project.

At stake is whether the council will rule in favor of the oil company's appeal or side with the city's Planning Commission, which ruled last month that Chevron's project should include a series of additional conditions, including increased monitoring and reductions of emissions of particulates and replacement of piping that carries high-sulfur material.

Chevron appealed the commission's recommendations to the council, and the council's own staff and consultants have sided with Chevron.

Tuesday's meeting will be a continuation of a July 22 hearing, at which fewer than 100 of more than 200 members of the public had time to speak before the council recessed.

Tuesday's meeting will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 440 Civic Center Plaza, because of the large expected crowd.

The main project components include replacing a 1960s-era hydrogen plant with more modern technology. The modernization would give the refinery flexibility to process crude oil blends, including those with higher levels of sulfur, according to Chevron.

Opponents say the project doesn't go far enough in limiting pollution and upgrading safety at the facility, and say the company should give more than the planned $60 million over 10 years in community investments.